Olaf Scholz together with Giorgia Meloni shortly after his arrival in Rome. © Michael Kappeler/dpa
These are crucial days for the continent's asylum policy. In Luxembourg, the EU interior ministers are struggling to find a compromise. And Chancellor Olaf Scholz is getting closer to Giorgia Meloni, who has been highly controversial for a long time, in Rome.
Munich – It wasn't long ago that Giorgia Meloni was never talked about in Berlin without the addition of "post-fascist." Some still do. Before his trip to Rome, Der Spiegel once again warned the chancellor that he should "not underestimate Meloni's dangerousness." On Thursday afternoon, however, Olaf Scholz stands next to this "dangerous post-fascist" and makes a quite satisfied impression. They work "closely and trustingly" together, says the SPD politician. And "bilateral cooperation will be intensified even further". Italy is a "reliable friend".
Scholz and Meloni: Chancellor tries to find common line in Rome
What sounds like diplomatic phrases at first hearing is in fact a pretty big step, which certainly triggers not only applause at home among SPD leftists or Greens. Berlin is making intensive efforts to find a common line with Rome. While Scholz and Meloni are in front of the cameras, the EU interior ministers in Luxembourg are trying to find a compromise on asylum behind closed doors. The right-wing government in Rome and the left-wing government in Berlin must also come to a common denominator.
It sounds as if harsh words were also spoken in the confidential conversation at Palazzo Chigi. "Italy was pretty much left alone," Meloni later said of the last years of migration policy. And Scholz next to her indirectly complains about the wave-through of some states. Germany has no external EU border, yet 80 percent of the arriving asylum seekers have not been registered anywhere. Nevertheless, a rapprochement can be heard. "All attempts to leave the problems with someone else or to point the finger at others will fail," says Scholz. "Today or soon at the latest" Europe will find results. "Cooperation is in order." And Meloni predicts "reaching out to each other" instead of pushing migrants from one EU country to the next. She emphasizes twice: "We must defend the EU's external border." There is "broad consensus" on this.
Scholz visits Meloni: It's about asylum policy and the EU's external borders
The debate is about many very fundamental questions: For the first time, procedures are planned at Europe's external borders so that people with little chance of being accepted do not come to the EU in the first place. For this purpose, there should be asylum centers near the border, from where migrants are to be deported directly. The question of whether Italy would tolerate such centers on its territory leaves Meloni unanswered. In Luxembourg, Austria even demands asylum procedures in so-called safe third countries, such as Tunisia or Algeria.
There is movement in the debate with Tunisia. Meloni was first a guest there, and on Sunday she will leave for Tunis again, this time accompanied by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. EPP leader Manfred Weber was one of the first to call for a migration pact with Tunisia. It was also the CSU politician who called on Germany to take a pragmatic approach to Meloni – and had also been criticized for this from within his own ranks. The fact that Scholz and the Italian are now pulling together should be a satisfaction.
EU countries want stricter asylum procedures at the EU's external borders
Despite the will to cooperate, the negotiations on Thursday were on the brink. Italy and Greece said in the afternoon that they could not agree to a new compromise proposal from the Swedish EU presidency. As a result, the negotiations were initially interrupted.
0
Also Read
Dam blowing up as an own goal? Expert explains water dilemma for Russian army
READ
Tank attacks launched: Ukrainian offensive breaks through Putin's front line
READ
Breakthrough at EU summit: Member states vote for stricter asylum procedures
READ
"China is not happy about what is going on in Ukraine"
READ
In the event of war: by no means all Germans find refuge in the bunker
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
Poland and Hungary also categorically reject the EU asylum reform. In the future, they will have to pay a penalty payment for every migrant they do not accept. A one-off payment of around 20,000 euros was discussed. Italy, on the other hand, insists on a maximum number of 20,000 asylum procedures per year – EU-wide, mind you. An agreement requires a qualified majority of the member states, i.e. at least 15 of the 27 states, which together comprise 65 percent of the EU population. (Mike Schier/Christian Deutschländer/AFP)
